Seen a post about a sheephead and I remembered this story n really wanted to share it. Believe it or not its 100% true and hands down the best fishing story in my arsenal. I really love telling people this story because it is truely amazing (with a bit of sheer dumb luck) and also is one of my favorite memories of my grandfather the best fisherman ive ever known.
So my grandfather, grandmother and me are out on this little stretch of pier fishing lake ont close to jordan for basicly whatever we can catch. I must have been maybe 6 or 7 at the time (cant quite remember). I have this blue 3' rod thinking im a pro just casting in the water and my grandparents just entertaining the idea. Couple hours in, fish strikes and starts taking off with my line. Now being young this fish was trouble for me,couldnt reel it in.. and eventually would end up having the rod pulled from my hands. So my grandmother right beside me decides to take the rod (whos squatting on the pier) and goes to reel in the fish. SPLASH! No sooner had she grabbed the rod she goes head first into the water. My grandfather immediately drops his rod and pulls her out of the water. Now me at this point im balling my eyes out cuz not only did i loose the fish.. but i lost my new rod my grandfather gave me. So my grandfather (probably more just to shut me up) tells me not to worry hes gonna catch me that fish. I didnt believe him and my grandmother sais and i quote "bill dont be so fckn stupid", but went along anyway with his plan. Reels in his line and casts out in the direction that the rod took off. Very slowly and ever so slightly started reeling in the line when all of a sudden BAM something was hooked. Like a bat out of hell he starts reeling in this line.. and what pops out of the water attached to his hook.. The god dam rod! Frantic my granfather grabs the rod and starts reeling all the line back up.. Wouldnt ya know it starts fighting with the darn fish that stole it and lands it. Fckin sheephead. Ill never forget that day as long as i live. So extatic over what just happened he decided to keep the fish (against my grandmothers will) and cut the stones from its head and gave em to me as my trophy (which stupidly being a kid.. i lost.) To this day i still have the rod and its never seen a day of fishing since then.
So my grandfather, grandmother and me are out on this little stretch of pier fishing lake ont close to jordan for basicly whatever we can catch. I must have been maybe 6 or 7 at the time (cant quite remember). I have this blue 3' rod thinking im a pro just casting in the water and my grandparents just entertaining the idea. Couple hours in, fish strikes and starts taking off with my line. Now being young this fish was trouble for me,couldnt reel it in.. and eventually would end up having the rod pulled from my hands. So my grandmother right beside me decides to take the rod (whos squatting on the pier) and goes to reel in the fish. SPLASH! No sooner had she grabbed the rod she goes head first into the water. My grandfather immediately drops his rod and pulls her out of the water. Now me at this point im balling my eyes out cuz not only did i loose the fish.. but i lost my new rod my grandfather gave me. So my grandfather (probably more just to shut me up) tells me not to worry hes gonna catch me that fish. I didnt believe him and my grandmother sais and i quote "bill dont be so fckn stupid", but went along anyway with his plan. Reels in his line and casts out in the direction that the rod took off. Very slowly and ever so slightly started reeling in the line when all of a sudden BAM something was hooked. Like a bat out of hell he starts reeling in this line.. and what pops out of the water attached to his hook.. The god dam rod! Frantic my granfather grabs the rod and starts reeling all the line back up.. Wouldnt ya know it starts fighting with the darn fish that stole it and lands it. Fckin sheephead. Ill never forget that day as long as i live. So extatic over what just happened he decided to keep the fish (against my grandmothers will) and cut the stones from its head and gave em to me as my trophy (which stupidly being a kid.. i lost.) To this day i still have the rod and its never seen a day of fishing since then.
